Jess's hand on her arm stopped her. "You didn't let me finish," she said. "I'd like to stay, but I need to go pick up Thor. On the weekends, the kennel is open from seven to nine in the morning, then not again until the afternoon. If I don't go get him now, I won't be able to pick him up until five o'clock."
God, Kim. Get hold of yourself. Don't jump to conclusions. Jess doesn't seem to be freaking out. She put aside the astonishment that observation caused for later contemplation. "I understand. Go pick up the big guy," Kim said, her fears temporarily laid to rest. She turned once more and walked to the front door.
Jess followed in her wake. She grabbed her jacket off the back of a dining room chair and shrugged into it. "Looks like it's going to be a nice day, now that the rain has stopped." Jess cleared her throat. "I was wondering... um. Would you like to go out to lunch later?"
See, have a little faith. "Sure. Where did you want to go?"
"I was thinking of our favorite Mexican place since they have an outdoor patio."
"Why outside?" Kim wasn't thrilled with the idea of eating outside. Even though the sun was out, it was still cool and damp.
"Well." Jess shifted and looked at her feet. "I was hoping you wouldn't mind if I brought Thor along. I don't want to leave him home alone so soon after he's been at the kennel overnight."
You are such a big softie. Kim was pleased when Jess showed her softhearted side. It was such a contrast to her tough-as-nails work persona. That Jess was comfortable enough to let her see what Kim felt was the real Jess McKenna meant a lot to her.
She grasped Jess's hand and gave it a firm squeeze. "Of course I don't mind. Bring Thor. You know I love the big guy."
When Jess looked up, her vivid blue eyes were filled with warmth.
"What time do you want to meet at the restaurant?" Kim asked.
"Thor and I will pick you up at noon?" It sounded more like question than a statement. Jess peered at her from under half-lidded eyes. "If that would be okay?"
Kim studied Jess for just a moment, intrigued by her body language. What's this? Jess looked almost — shy. She quickly thought of how Jess had worded her invitation to lunch and now the offer to pick her up.
Oh... is she asking me on a date? They normally went to restaurants and other places in separate vehicles.
Only one way to be sure. "I'd love to go out on a date with you and Thor. I'll be waiting for you at noon."
The dazzling smile that blazed across Jess's face assured Kim that she had been right. A date with Jess. Even after what they had shared last night, the thought was both thrilling and scary.
"Maybe after lunch, we could go for a walk, then back to my place... for a movie or something?" Jess asked, with a bit of an uncharacteristic stammer.
Wow. She's inviting me to her house? Even after what happened last night? Kim wondered what all this meant for their relationship. Worry about that later.
"That would be great." She glanced at the clock in the kitchen. Damn. "You better get going."
Jess raked a hand through her hair. "Yeah."
Kim flipped open the dead bolt and put her hand on the doorknob.
"Kim." Jess stepped close, but didn't touch her.
Something in Jess's voice caught Kim's attention. She met Jess's gaze and froze.
Jess's eyes had turned silvery-blue. She moved forward, closing the distance between them.
Oh, yes. Please.
Jess's lips brushed hers in a soft, tender kiss.
Kim leaned into the kiss. Relief mingled with pleasure. She hadn't messed up things between them after all.
"I'll see you later," Jess whispered, her voice gone husky. She started to move away, then swept back in for a second kiss.
Arousal washed over Kim like a wave at high tide.
When Jess attempted to deepen the kiss, she eagerly opened for her.
Jess's tongue slid into her mouth.
Kim groaned deep in her chest. She clutched at Jess's jacket as her knees turned weak.
Strong arms wrapped around Kim and pulled her close.
Everything ceased to exist for Kim — except Jess. The feel of her body pressed against the length of hers, Jess's scent filling her senses, the press of her tongue in Kim's mouth.
Panting, Jess pulled back from the torrid kiss.
Kim whimpered. My God. She had kissed her share of women but had never experienced anything so powerful.
Jess pressed her forehead against Kim's. Her breath hitched in her chest. "Wow," she muttered.
Kim's heart soared with the knowledge that Jess had been just as affected by the kiss.
"I better go," Jess said. She didn't sound very thrilled with the idea.
The last thing Kim wanted was for Jess to leave. If she doesn't pick up Thor now, she'll feel guilty later and so will you.
"Go get our boy and I'll see you both in a little while," Kim said.
A brilliant smile made Jess's face glow. She looked as if she was considering kissing Kim again. With a rough shake of her head, she apparently thought better of it.
Although disappointed, Kim knew it was for the best. Her body was still thrumming with arousal. One more kiss and she would drag Jess off to her bed.
"Okay. Later," Jess said before slipping out the door.
It wasn't until the door closed behind Jess that Kim realized what she had said. Our boy. Kim shook her head. Oh boy!
* * *
Jess pulled into a parking spot outside Kim's condo complex but made no move to get out of her SUV. "I can do this." She wiped her sweaty palms on her pants. "It's just like all the other times I've been out with Kim. We've been going out together for months." Even as Jess said it, she knew it wasn't true.
Last night had changed everything.
Now that she had touched Kim so intimately, she could not hide the depth of what she felt — from herself or Kim.
Add to that the shock she had gotten this morning when she woke up with Kim in her arms. She had tried to write it off as both of them being overstressed and tired. After all, they had slept on the floor. Then she remembered Halloween. You claimed that time it was too much pizza and beer. There's more to it than that and you know it.
Jess sighed. The thought of spending the night with Kim wrapped in her arms was an appealing one. It was not something she had wanted to do with either of her exes. Both had complained about her rarely spending the night and never cuddling up to sleep when she did. But Kim's different. You've known that for a while.
Despite her lingering fears about how she was going to react when Kim took control and wanted to make love to her, Jess was determined to make this relationship work. She had already stepped well outside her comfort zone a number of times where Kim was concerned. She's worth it.
"Okay. Enough of this." She looked into the back seat. "Time for me to go pick up our date."
Thor's tail thumped against the seat.
Jess reached for the bouquet of flowers lying on the passenger seat. She picked them up, set them back down, then picked them up again. Shaking her head, she blew out a breath. "Make up your damn mind." The flowers had seemed like a good idea, but now she wasn't sure. "She's already your friend. You don't have to impress her."
Turning slightly, she held up the flowers to Thor. "What do you think? Take them?"
Thor yawned.
"You're no help." Jess laughed. "Great, I really am losing it. Now I'm asking a dog for advice." She shook her head. What she really wanted was for Kim to feel special. Flowers it is, then.